High Museum of Art
Head of Retail Operations (Regular/Full-time)
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Department: Retail
FSLA: Exempt
Employee Status: Regular/Full-time

Job Purpose:
Oversees all aspects of retail operations including preparing annual budgets, inventory management, buying and product development for all shops, merchandise display, business planning, pricing policies, and supervision of staff.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties include the following:
· Prepare annual department budget for review and approval. Maintain budget within
established guidelines.
· Analyze data in order to provide reports showing key indicators of retail operations
performance (i.e. inventory turns, sales, product mix and average sales per visitor).
· Formulate pricing policies on merchandise and develop plans to increase shop
revenues.
· Maintain merchandise control and oversee all buying and display of merchandise with
the assistant buyer.
· Interact with Museum curators and administrative staff to coordinate product
development and exhibition shops and ensure that merchandise is available to
enhance
exhibitions as well as the permanent collection.
· Manage all aspects of planning product development strategies for special
exhibitions, from concept to completion with the assistant buyer.
· Negotiate production costs with vendors. Negotiate with art lenders and artists' estates
regarding rights and reproductions.
· Formulate business and inventory plans for product development merchandise line
based upon self-conducted market research.
· Meet with sales representatives to preview and select new products.
· Collaborate with museum's curators in selecting images from the permanent
collection for product development.
· Collaborate with different departments to effectively promote the shop (e.g. Public
relations, Marketing, Web, and Development).
· Collaborate with different departments on initiatives that involve the shop and retail
components (e.g. books signings, cultivation events).
· Provide leadership as well as coach, motivate and train staff.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Education/Experience:
· Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, preferably in business or marketing.
· Three to five years related retail experience in a museum store setting.
· Experience working with vendors, designers: knowledge of related copyright and licensing regulations.
Other Skills and Abilities:
· Ability to learn and understand the High Museum's collection and incorporate it into
the retail operation.
· Provide excellence in service and always portray a positive and professional image of
the High Museum of Art.
· Strategic mindset helpful.
· Follow the High Museum of Art's protocols, procedures, rules and policies in
performing responsibilities.
· Full understanding of a merchandise buying plan (open-to-buy).
· Knowledge of Excel and Microsoft Word is essential.
· Ability to develop and maintain external partnerships and relationships.
· Layout and display strengths.
· Skilled in multi-tasking.
· Impeccable attention to detail and very organized.
· Good interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with a variety of people.
· Communicate effectively orally and in writing; give effective presentations.
· Ability to solve problems and prioritize needs in a variety of situations where immediate decisions may be necessary.
Language Skills:
· Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals and other related publications, catalogues and correspondence.
· Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedures.
· Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from employees, vendors and the general public.
Mathematical Skills:
Ability to compute rates and percentages and to present information in report form, maintain appropriate inventory and develop a departmental budget.
Reasoning Ability:
· Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
· Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:
The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
· Some standing, walking, bending, frequent use of hands, stooping and light lifting (at least 10 pounds) is needed.